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ABC Australia lifts on Pacific audience

International television network ABC Australia is up by 8% year on year.

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ABC’s international television network ABC Australia has increased its monthly viewers by 8% year-over-year (YOY) from 3.62 million to 3.91 million, according to audience figures compiled for the ABC’s 2023 Annual Report.

ABC Pacific, a digital offering for Pacific audiences launched in 2022, also witnessed significant audience growth. ABC Pacific Facebook reached a weekly average of 1.3 million users over the past 12 months and its followers have increased by 9% YOY in the latest data, currently sitting at 405,000.

The results come as ABC International Services rapidly scales up production of content relevant to international audiences under new dedicated funding from the Federal Government announced in the October 2022 and May 2023 Budgets.

Recent initiatives include a new weekly news television program The Pacific (pictured), special international editions of Gardening Australia, Landline and Back Roads and the tripling of Pacific-focused sport, music and cultural programming on ABC Radio Australia.

Managing Director David Anderson said: “As one of the region’s longest-serving and most trusted broadcasters, the ABC is investing additional funding from the Federal Government to engage audiences across the Indo-Pacific in a meaningful way, which is resulting in the strong audience growth we are witnessing across all platforms. It’s a fantastic achievement for the ABC at a time when Australian and international audiences have more options available than ever before.”

ABC International Services Head Claire M. Gorman said: “This latest data is evidence that our international investments are starting to deliver concrete results. As the Government’s partner in fulfilling the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy, the ABC is uniquely placed to deliver excellent outcomes for international audiences who are increasingly coming to the ABC for trusted, informative and inspiring content.”

ABC Radio Australia also increased its YOY monthly listeners from 287,300 to 321,225 and plans to cover all Pacific Island Forum nations with FM transmission within the next two years.

One Response

  1. The Federal Government is planning to reintroduce the Radio Australia Shortwave service to the Pacific. Since the service was switched to FM only in 2017, audience numbers plummeted, because FM is line-of-site reception, meaning many in the Pacific islands just can’t hear it. Having the ABC international service called ABC Australia is silly. Why call it Australian Broadcasting Corporation Australia? Wouldn’t it be better calling it ABC International, or ABC Pacific?

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